Method and system for describing and organizing image data

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for describing and organizing image data. An analysis system includes a sensor, a processing unit, a machine, a database, and/or a display. The analysis system is connected to an electronic device. The sensor generates sensor data which is imported by the processing unit. The processing unit analyzes the sensor data to determine features of the sensor data such as the subject, the time, the location, the object, the event, and/or the action in the sensor data. The processing unit creates entries for the sensor data in a features index. The processing unit receives a query for an item and uses the features index to determine search results including the item, such as a location and a time of the item. The processing unit can also determine whether a machine has completed its mission using the features in the sensor data.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §120

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/642,685, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,237,792, entitled“Method and System for Describing and Organizing Image Data,” filed onDec. 18, 2009. The entire disclosure of this application is assigned tothe assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a method and system for describing andorganizing image data.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional video analysis systems extract only a limited amount ofinformation from a video clip. This can hamper the ability of a thirdparty to determine exactly what occurred in the video. For example, suchsystems may only determine whether a subject in the video clip is eithersuspicious or non-suspicious. Such binary analysis of whether somethingis either suspicious or non-suspicious or moving or non-moving provideslimited value to the user in determining exactly what happens in thevideo clip. For example, the user will not be able to determine what thesubject was doing, such as whether the subject was moving an object,running, or helping someone. Furthermore, such systems are unable tohelp the user find a lost object since the focus is only on the subjectand the analysis is only whether the subject meets a predeterminedthreshold.

This binary analysis in conventional video analysis systems also limitthe usefulness of the video clip for situations unanticipated by theoriginal conventional video analysis due to the limited amount ofinformation extracted. In addition, with limited amount of informationextracted, conventional video analysis systems are also unable to handlelarge data volumes and thus video data with certain features may be hardto find.

Furthermore, conventional video analysis systems limited applicationsdue to their limited information collection and organization abilities.Thus, they are unable to determine whether a machine has completed amission since limited data comparisons hamper the ability of the systemto determine whether the machine has truly completed a mission.

Thus, there is a need for an improved method and system for describingand organizing image data.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a method and system for describingand organizing image data. The present invention can include an analysissystem. The analysis system can include a sensor, a processing unit, amachine, a database, and/or a display. The analysis system can beconnected to an electronic device. The sensor can generate sensor datawhich is imported by the processing unit. The processing unit cananalyze the sensor data to determine features of the sensor data such asthe subject, the time, the location, the object, the event, and/or theaction in the sensor data. The processing unit can also create entriesfor the sensor data in a features index using the subject, the time, thelocation, the object, the event, and/or the action in the sensor data.Furthermore, the processing unit can receive a query for an item and theprocessing unit can use the features index to determine search resultsincluding the item, such as a location and a time of the item. Inaddition, the processing unit can also determine whether a machine hascompleted its mission using the features in the sensor data.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of analyzing ascene including importing sensor data, identifying a subject in thesensor data, identifying a time in the sensor data, identifying alocation in the sensor data, identifying an object in the sensor data,identifying an event in the sensor data, identifying an action in thesensor data, and creating an entry in the feature index for the sensordata from the subject, the time, the location, the object, the event,and the action.

A method for finding an item including importing sensor data,identifying a subject in the sensor data, identifying a time in thesensor data, identifying a location in the sensor data, identifying anobject in the sensor data, identifying an event in the sensor data,identifying an action in the sensor data, creating an entry in thefeature index for the sensor data from the subject, the time, thelocation, the object, the event, and the action, receiving a query foran item, searching the feature index to determine whether the item iscontained in the sensor data, and displaying the result of the search.

A method for operating a machine including receiving a mission state ofthe machine, receiving a current state of the machine, analyzing themission state of the machine and the current state of the machine,continuing to operate the machine when the mission state of the machineand the current state of the machine are substantially different, andceasing to operate the machine when the mission state of the machine andthe current state of the machine are substantially the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, obstacles, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the detailed description set forth below whentaken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system in communication with anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a process according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a process according to an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 4 is a process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatus, systems and methods that implement the embodiments of thevarious features of the present invention will now be described withreference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptionsare provided to illustrate some embodiments of the present invention andnot to limit the scope of the present invention. Throughout thedrawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondencebetween referenced elements.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes an analysis system 100as shown in FIG. 1. The analysis system 100 can include, for example, asensor 102, a processing unit 104, a machine 106, a database 108, adisplay 110, a data interface unit 114, and/or a machine interface unit116. The analysis system 100 can optionally be in communication with anelectronic device 112. The electronic device 112 can be, for example, aprocessor, a user input device, a computer, a portable device, a mobilephone, a personal digital assistant, or any other type of electronicequipment that can utilize data and information generated and/orprocessed by the analysis system 100.

The sensor 102 is connected to the processing unit 104 through, forexample, the data interface unit 114. The sensor 102 can also beconnected, for example, to the machine 106. The sensor 102 can be, forexample, a distance sensor, a video camera, a digital camera, amicrophone, an infrared sensor, a motion sensor, a global positioningsystem, and/or any other type of sensor that can provide relevant datato the processing unit 104. The sensor 102 can provide sensor data suchas distance data, video data, image data, audio data, infrared data,motion data, global positioning system data, and/or any other types ofdata relevant to the processing unit 104. For example, the sensor 102can generate the sensor data from an operation of the machine 106. Thesensor 102 can generate the sensor data from events or objects externalto the analysis system 100. However, the sensor 102 can also generatethe sensor data from events or objects internal to the analysis system100.

The data interface unit 114 can be connected to the sensor 102 and/orthe processing unit 104. The data interface unit 114 can provide aninterface between the sensor 102 and the processing unit 104. This canallow, for example, the processing unit 104 to import sensor data fromthe sensor 102.

The machine 106 is connected to the processing unit 104, for example,through the machine interface unit 116. The machine 106 can receiveinstructions from the processing unit 104 through, for example, themachine interface unit 116. The machine 104 can be, for example, acomputer, an engine, a motor, and/or any other type of equipment. Themachine 104 can operate or cease to operate based on the instructionsfrom the processing unit 104. Thus, for example, in the situation wherethe machine 106 is the engine of an automobile, the automobile may haveset guidelines for reaching a destination. The guidelines will then bethe mission state. The engine will continue to run until the missionstate is accomplished, or the guidelines have been met. For example, themission state can include the automobile reaching a certain location ata certain time or having a certain speed by a certain time.

The machine interface unit 116 can be connected to the machine 106and/or the processing unit 104. The machine interface unit 116 canprovide an interface between the machine 106 and the processing unit104. This can allow, for example, the processing unit 104 to control themachine 106.

The processing unit 104 can be connected, for example, to the database108, the display 110, the electronic device 112, the data interface unit114, and/or the machine interface unit 116. The processing unit 104 canimport, receive, process, and/or analyze the sensor data to determinefeatures within the sensor data from the sensor 102. The features can,for example, describe the sensor data, and also be used to organize thesensor data. The processing unit 104 can identify features such as, asubject in the sensor data, a time in the sensor data, a location in thesensor data, an object in the sensor data, an event in the sensor data,and/or an action in the sensor data. In addition, additional featurescan be appropriately identified.

The subject in the sensor data can be, for example, the subjectperforming the action on the object. The time in the sensor data can bethe start time of the sensor data, the end time of the sensor data, orthe time at any portions of the sensor data. In one embodiment, thesensor data can have multiple times associated with it. The location inthe sensor data can be, for example, the location of the subject, and/orthe object. The location in the sensor data can also be, for example,the geographic location of the system 100, the sensor 102, the machine106, the processing unit 104, the database 108, the display 110, and/orthe electronic device 112. The object can be, for example, the targetand/or recipient of the action by the subject. The event can be, forexample, a general classification of what happened between the subjectand the object. The action can be, for example, an action performed bythe subject on the object.

For example, if the sensor data was a video clip of a person placing apair of glasses in a drawer in the living room at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday,Dec. 6, 2009, the subject would be the person. The time would be 10:00a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. The location would be the living room. Theobject would be the pair of glasses. The event would be the storage ofthe item. The action would be placing and/or storing since the personplaced the glasses in the drawer, thus the storing of the item. Inaddition, other entries can be used for the features. For example, thetime can also be the time in the video clip. If the time was 25 minutesinto a 30 minute video clip, then the time would be 25 minutes insteadof or in addition to being 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.Furthermore, the frame number of the video clip can also be used. Theobject can also be the drawer, since the person will have opened thedoor and placed the object in the drawer. In addition, the event canalso be manipulation of the drawer. Also, the action can be openingand/or closing the drawer.

From the subject, the time, the location, the object, the event, and/orthe action in the sensor data, the processing unit 104 can create one ormore entries in a feature index corresponding to the sensor data. Thiscan, for example, organize the sensor data. The feature index can be oneor more consolidated indexes organized by the subject, the time, thelocation, the object, the event, the action, or any other types oforganization. The feature index can also be organized alphabetically.Furthermore, the sensor data can have multiple entries in the featureindex. For example, the sensor data can have an entry regarding thesubject of the sensor data, an entry regarding the time of the sensordata, an entry regarding the location of the sensor data, an entryregarding the object of the sensor data, an entry regarding the event ofthe sensor data, and/or an entry regarding the action of the sensordata. Furthermore, there can be multiple entries for each of thesubject, the time, the location, the object, the event, and/or theaction of the sensor data. The processing unit 104 can send the sensordata, and/or the feature index to the database 108 to be stored by thedatabase 108. However, in one embodiment, the processing unit 104 canalso store, for example, the sensor data and/or the feature index.

The processing unit 104 can also help find a lost item. For example, thesensor data can be a video clip of a person using an item. Theprocessing unit 104 can determine the subject, the time, the location,the object, the event, and/or the action in the video clip and createone or more entries in the feature index. Subsequently, the processingunit 104 can receive a query related to the item. The processing unit104 can then search the feature index for an entry corresponding to theitem and display the search results for the item.

The processing unit 104 can also determine whether the query receivedwill be sufficient to produce search results with a sufficientspecificity. The processing unit 104 can request additional informationand/or a more detailed query when the processing unit 104 determinesthat the query received will be insufficient to produce search resultswith a sufficient specificity.

For example, if the query produces too many results or the results willbe too broad, then the processing unit 104 can request additionalinformation and/or a more detailed query. The processing unit 104 caninstruct the display 110 to display the search results. The searchresults can include a time and a location of the item. If the item islocated on multiple portions of the video clip, there can be multipletimes and locations displayed for the item. Thus, the item can easily belocated by determining where it was at what time. This can help aperson, such as a person with a reduced memory capacity in locatingitems.

The query is not limited to just finding an item, but can be used tosearch for any type of entry in the features index, such as the subject,the time, the location, the object, the action, and/or the event. Thismay be beneficial, for example, in crime scene analysis where there aremany sensor data and/or video data that have to be analyzed.

Furthermore, the present invention can also be used, for example, in anautomobile where components of the automobile may need to analyze thesensor data to determine adjustments to the vehicle. For example, todetermine whether the automobile needs to enter traction control mode,the automobile can search the features index to determine the time andlocation where snow was detected. Furthermore, if objects in the roadare detected, the automobile can search the features index to determinewhether a speed of the automobile should be reduced. The automobile canalso analyze the sensor data to maintain a distance to an object.

The processing unit 104 can also determine whether a mission of amachine was completed. For example, the processing unit 104 can receivea mission state, such as the mission state of the machine 106. Themission state can include a subject, a time, a location, an object, anevent, and/or an action. The processing unit 104 can compare the missionstate of the machine 106 to the sensor data of the machine 106 anddetermine whether the machine 106 has completed its mission. Thus, theprocessing unit 104 can compare the subject, the time, the location, theobject, the event, and/or the action of the mission state to thesubject, the time, the location, the object, the event, and/or theaction of the sensor data.

When the mission state and the sensor data substantially match, then themission is complete for the machine 106. The processing unit 104 canthen instruct the machine 106 to cease operating. Otherwise, the machine106 has not completed its mission, and the processing unit 104 caninstruct the machine 106 to continue operating. For example, if thesubject, the time, the location, the object, the event, and/or theaction of the mission state substantially matches the subject, the time,the location, the object, the event, and/or the action of the sensordata, then the processing unit 104 can determine that the mission forthe machine 106 is completed.

For example, the mission state of the machine 106 can be an arm of amachine should shrink wrap 5,000 products in the warehouse by 10:00 a.m.on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. In such a case, the subject can be the machine,the time can be 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, the location can bethe warehouse, the object can be the products, the event can be theprogress report, and the action can be the shrink wrapping. When thesensor data substantially matches the mission state, then the machine106 can cease to operate. However, if the sensor data does notsubstantially match the mission state, then the machine 106 can continueto operate. Furthermore, not all of the features need be utilized. Forexample, the deadline is 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. If thedeadline is not met, the machine 106 can still cease to operate once allof the other features in the mission state match the sensor data.However, an entry in the feature index can be placed to note theinability to complete the mission on time.

Furthermore, the machine 106 can also have parallel missions, such asobstacle avoidance and changing lanes when the machine 106 is anautomobile. The obstacle avoidance may be the default mission that isactive all of the time while the changing lane mission can be a missionthat is periodically activated. In one embodiment, the changing lanemission can have sub-missions such as maintaining distance and/or speedto objects and/or road signs, maintaining the automobile in a currentlane that the automobile is in, checking a target lane, checking atarget lane for clearance and/or obstacles, checking objects withtransient states such as crossing lane markers, moving the automobileinto the target lane, and/or maintaining the automobile in the targetlane.

The database 108 can be connected, for example, to the processing unit104. The database 108 can be, for example, a memory and/or a storageunit. The database 108 can store the sensor data, and/or the featureindex. The database 108 can also store any other data relevant to theprocessing unit 104, the electronic device 112, and/or the machine 106.

The display 110 can be connected, for example, to the processing unit104. The display can display, for example, the search results, thesensor data, entries in the feature index, portions of the featureindex, the entire feature index, and/or any other information thatshould be displayed.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a process according to FIG.2. In Step S202, the sensor data is imported. For example, the sensordata from the sensor 102 is imported by the processing unit 104. In StepS204, a subject in the sensor data is identified. For example, theprocessing unit 104 identifies a subject in the sensor data. In StepS206, a time is identified in the sensor data. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify a time in the sensor data. In StepS208, a location in the sensor data is identified. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify the location in the sensor data.

In Step S210, the object in the sensor data is identified. For example,the processing unit 104 can identify the object in the sensor data. InStep S212, an event in the sensor data is identified. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify the event in the sensor data. In StepS214, an action in the sensor data is identified. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify the action in the sensor data. In StepS216, an entry in the feature index for the sensor data is created fromthe subject, the time, the location, the object, the event, and theaction in the sensor data.

In one embodiment, the Steps S202 through Steps S216 can be repeated,for example, until substantially all of the sensor data has beenprocessed. In another embodiment, the Steps S202 through Steps S216 canbe repeated until the processing unit 104 determines it hasappropriately processed enough sensor data or that the process should behalted. In yet another embodiment, the Steps S204 through Steps S214 maybe done in parallel, serially, or any combination of parallel andserial. Furthermore, an entry may be created in the feature index assoon as any of the features, such as the subject, the time, thelocation, the object, the event, and/or the action has been identified.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a process according to FIG.3. In Step S302, sensor data can be imported. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can import sensor data from the sensor 102. In StepS304, a subject is identified in the sensor data. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify the subject in the sensor data. In StepS306, a time in the sensor data is identified. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify the time in the sensor data. In StepS308, a location in the sensor data is identified. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify the location in the sensor data. InStep S310, an object in the sensor data is identified. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify the object in the sensor data.

In Step S312, an event in the sensor data is identified. For example,the processing unit 104 can identify the event in the sensor data. InStep S314, an action in the sensor data is identified. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can identify the action in the sensor data. In StepS316, an entry in the feature index can be created for the subject, thetime, the location, the object, the event, and/or the action in thesensor data. For example, the processing unit 104 can create an entry ormultiple entries in the feature index for the subject, the time, thelocation, the object, the event, and/or the action in the sensor data.In Step S318, a query for an item can be received. For example, theprocessing unit 104 can receive a query for an item from the electronicdevice 112 and/or the machine 106.

In Step S320, the feature index can be searched to determine whether theitem is contained in the sensor data. For example, the processing unit104, the feature index is searched to determine whether the item iscontained in the sensor data. For example, the processing unit 104 cansearch the feature index to determine whether the item is contained inthe sensor data. Alternatively, the electronic device 112 can search thefeature index to determine whether the item is contained in the sensordata. In Step S322, the results of the search can be displayed. Forexample, the display 110 can display the results of the search at theinstruction of the processing unit 104 and/or the electronic device 112.

In one embodiment, Step S318 can be performed at any time in theprocess. Thus, for example, the query for the item can be received atany time and not necessarily between Steps S316 and S320. In anotherembodiment, the Steps S304 through Steps 314 may be done in parallel,serially, or any combination of parallel and serial. Furthermore, anentry may be created in the feature index as soon as any of thefeatures, such as the subject, the time, the location, the object, theevent, and/or the action has been identified.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a process according toFIG. 4. In Step S402, a mission state of a machine is received. Forexample, the processing unit 104 can receive the mission state of themachine 106 from the electronic device 112. In Step S404, a currentstate of the machine 106 is received. For example, the current state ofthe machine 106 can be received from the sensor 102. In Step S406, themission state of the machine and the current state of the machine areanalyzed. For example, the processing unit 104 analyzes the missionstate of the machine 106 and the current state of the machine 106.

In Step S408, the machine 106 continues to operate when the missionstate of the machine and the current state of the machine aresubstantially different. For example, the machine 106 can continue tooperate when the mission state of the machine 106 and the current stateof the machine 106 are substantially different. The machine 106 cancontinue to operate, for example, at the direction of the processingunit 104 and/or the electronic device 112. In Step S410, the machineceases to operate when the mission state of the machine and the currentstate of the machine are substantially the same. For example, themachine 106 can cease to operate, when the mission state of the machine106 and the current state of the machine 106 are substantially the same.The machine 106 can cease to operate, for example, at the direction ofthe processing unit 104 and/or the electronic device 112. In oneembodiment, the Steps S402 and S404 may be done in parallel, serially,or any combination of parallel and serial.

The previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enableany person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosedmethods and apparatus. Various modifications to these examples will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles definedherein may be applied to other examples without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosed method and apparatus. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore,indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for finding an item comprising:importing sensor data; identifying a subject in the sensor data;identifying a time in the sensor data; identifying a location in thesensor data; identifying an object in the sensor data; identifying anevent in the sensor data; identifying an action in the sensor data;creating an entry in the feature index for the sensor data from thesubject, the time, the location, the object, the event, and the action;receiving a first query for a first item; searching, at a firstiteration frequency, the feature index to determine whether the firstitem is contained in the sensor data; displaying a result of the searchfor the first item; analyzing the first query for the first item todetermine whether the result of the search for the first item will bemore specific than a predetermined specificity, and requesting a moredetailed query when the result of the search for the first item will notbe more specific than the predetermined specificity; receiving a secondquery for a second item; searching, at a second iteration frequencyslower than the first iteration frequency, the feature index todetermine whether the second item is contained in the sensor data; anddisplaying a result of the search for the second item.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the sensor data includes image data.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the sensor data includes video data.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the sensor data includes global positioning system data.5. The method of claim 1 wherein the result of the search for the firstitem includes a time and a location of the first item or the result ofthe search for the second item includes a time and a location for thesecond item.